Job Summary
The Category Manager is responsible for planning and leading purchasing activities to mitigate supply risk and to achieve optimal/lowest total cost of ownership of raw materials or outsourced products to meet the needs of GAF. He/She will negotiate to manage vendor and vendor-relationships and develop commercial terms and develop supply contracts, in alignment with corporate policies and procedures. The individual will leverage market and alternative vendors to help drive competitive pricing, and while protecting the company against supply shortages and outages, poor material quality, and other performance and/or supplier issues that might adversely affect GAF.
The position will monitor macro trends in his/her supplier contract base and devise and implement plans to react, protecting GAF from commodity price swings and ensuring material supply availability. It will drive adherence to defined supplier performance metrics and will manage the supply base to ensure alignment with those metrics. It will also lead, and/or participate in, cross-functional teams and will drive implementation of sourcing requirements necessary to achieve project objectives. It will develop a mature understanding of the industry and will maintain industry and supplier contacts and relationships, building effective partnerships.
The Category Manager will exhibit full commodity understanding (function, technology, content difference) necessary to align targets and program deliverables and demonstrate a solid understanding of the commodity competitive market and key commodity indices in order to make recommendations and implement alternative suppliers or alternative materials. The Category Manager will also develop, document, and implement commodity sourcing strategies.
Essential Duties
Negotiate with suppliers and help drive execution of Supply Agreements to mitigate risk and help attain the lowest total system cost and which are in accordance with company policies and procedures. (20-25%)
Manage contractual commitments and supplier assessments, ensuring all purchases consistent with quality and delivery requirements. (15-20%)
Partner with internal GAF organization to lead supply based projects, identifying benefits and providing periodic updates to management. Coordinate with internal customers to implement supply of product or service, including recommended supplier changes. (15-20%)
Analyze, develop and deliver timely cost information. Report and communicate Procurement activities. Provide supply-based market intelligence to internal GAF partners. (10-15%)
Assess suppliers and potential suppliers. Oversee tracking of supplier metrics, and communicate performance. Manage vendor relationships and build effective partnerships. (10-15%)
Develop and implement sourcing strategies that are aligned with GAF business objectives. (5-10%)
Ad-hoc. (5-10%)
Under This Roof We Require
Bachelor’s Degree Supply Chain, Business, Science, Engineering or Related Field Required
4+ years of experience in procurement
Demonstrated advanced proficiency in purchasing software systems, methods and cost; demonstrated experience working in a customer-focused and multi-functional team environment
Experience in the use of ERP system (Oracle/Peoplesoft/SAP/or equivalent
Advanced negotiating skills; demonstrated experience partnering with operations/production to implement mutually agreeable strategies.
Strong understanding of standard purchasing and supply chain concepts, practices and procedures
Excellent negotiation skills and contract experience
Strategic and systems thinking
Excellent communication skills
Excellent computer skills
Familiar with financial management and analysis
Ability to excel in a matrix management environment
Under This Roof We Also Value
Technical experience within roofing plant preferred
Physical Demands
Stationary Position - Frequently
Stationary Position/Seated - Frequently
Position Self/Stooping - Occasionally
Position Self/Kneeling - Occasionally
Position Self/Crouching - Occasionally
Reaching - Occasionally
Handling - Occasionally
Grasping - Occasionally
Communicate/Talking - Frequently
Communicate/Hearing - Frequently
Repetitive Motions - Frequently
Working Conditions
Temperature Change - Occasionally
Travel Requirements: 10%